Transmission lock



H. F. GEORGE TRANSMISSION LOCK Filed Oct. 2, 192

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June 19, 1928.

Patented June 19, 1928.

HARRY F. GEORGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRANSMISSION LOCK.

Application filed October 2, 1926. Serial No. 139,050. r

The present invention relates to improve ments in transmission looks. I

More particularly the present invention relates to locking means for locking the usual gear shifting rods of a motor vehicle.

An object of the present invent-ion is to provide a transmission lock which is readily adaptable to cars as at present designed and manufactured.

A further object is to provide a trans mission lock which is positive and simple in operation and which has the advantage that insurance may be had that when the car is locked it will always be locked in. neutral.

A further object is to provide a simple and cheap construction readily adaptable to cars as now designed and manufactured, which construction may be applied not only to cars in course of manufacture, but also to cars already in service.

Further objects will appear as the de scription proceeds. 7

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a motor vehicle having reference to the gear shifting members thereof, said portion having applied thereto one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 22 of Figure 1, showing the parts in locked position; 1

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows of Figure 2;

' Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the partsin unlocked position; and

Figure 5' is a bottom plan view of a lock ing plate employed in the present invention, said view being taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 1.

The numeral indicates the cover plate of a casing 10 (see Figures 2 and 4), which casing houses the gear shifting rods of a motor vehicle, which gear shifting rods are indicated by the numerals 11 and 12. Mounted upon said cover plate is a casting 13, which provides a bearing for the usual gear shifting lever 14. Said gear shifting lever 14, in a manner which is well understood and which need not be explained herein, operates to selectively move the gear shifting rods 11 and 12 to predetermined positionslongitudinally of said rods. Said cover plate 10 has an elongated portion 15 providing bearings for said rods 11 and 12. Ac-

cording to usual construction, said rods 11 and 12have recesses in theform of V-shaped notches in the adjacent sides thereof, there usually being three notches ineach of said rods. The notches in the rod 11 are indicated by the numerals 16, 17 and 18, andthe notches in the rod 12 are indicated by the numerals 19, 20 and 21. Ordinarily a pair of detents 22-22 are provided, which detents are spring-pressed apart by a spring 23. Said detents, which commonly have their outer extremities of conical conformation, fit into two of the V-shaped notches 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. y

In its specific aspects the present invention utilizes the fact that a conical detent fits within a V-shaped notch in a manner which will be referred to hereinafter. The three notches in the gear shifting rods 11 and 12 are not evenly spaced in all types of cars. Advantage of this difference in the placing of the notches is taken in the practice of the present invention in certain of its aspects. in certaintypes of cars the middle notches 17 and 20 of the two rods 11 and 12 are deeper than are the two end notches. Advantage of this fact is also taken in the practice of the present invention in certain of its aspects.

As is well understood, the detents 2222, by reason of the fact that they are pressed apart by the spring 23, serve to yieldably hold the gear shifting rods 11 and 12 in the positions to which they may have been moved. The present invention conten'iplatcs auxiliary means for fitting into certain of the recesses in said gear shifting rods 11 and 12 to hold said gear shifting rods positively against movement.

In accomplishing the results above referred to, the present invention contemplates the provision of an attachment indicated as a whole by'the numeral 24, which attach .ment is readily attachable to the casing 10 and cover plate 10. Said cover plate 10, at the elongated portion 15 thereof, is ord1-, narily provided with a pair of apertures 2525, which register with screw-threaded apertures 26,26 in the casing 10*. Stud bolts are ordinarily provided for mounting in said apertures 25 and 26. According to the present invention, the attachment 24 is provided with apertures 27'27 adapted to register with the apertures 2525 and apertures 2626. Stud bolts 28 are provided for holding said attachment 24; in position.

Said attachment 2 1 is cored out to provide space for a reciprocable plate 29 or the like, which plate 29 is mounted at the lower extremity of a stem 30, which stem 30 ishoused within the column 31, which column projects to a region above the lloor board, the upper extremity of which tloor board is indicated by the line Disposed in the upper Extremity of the column 31 is certain locking mechanism. The particular-type of locking mechanism illustrated comprises an axially movable lockingmember 33 adapted to have a limited axial movement within thewithin the aperture 38, holds the locking member 33 in its innermostposition against the tension of the spring 39, Locking membcrs oi the kind referred to are readily purchasable inthe open market and need not be described in detail herein; It will be-sufticientto state that'when it is desired to lock the plate' 29 in its lowermost position, the

ltit'klttii member 33 will be moved inwardly against the tension of the spring 39, until the spring-actuated bolt 37 snaps into the aperture 38. lVhen it is desired to unlock the plate 29, the proper key may be inserted and turn'cd through part of'a revolution. Such actionwill retract the'bolt 37 in the aperture 38, allowing' the spring 39 to move the locking member 33 to the upperlimit of its travel moving: the plate 29 to its uppermost or non-locking position. The upper side'of the plate Qtlis providedwith a plurality of pins 10-4tl adapted to ride in corresponding apertures l1 l-1 to hold the plate 29 in proper aligm'ncntin its reciprocat ngmovement.

Projecting- :trom the under side of the plateltl'are a pair of pins ii-"l2. which when thegear-shifting rods Hand 12 are in neutralpositions are located in alignment with the recesses 16 and 19 otthe gear shifting rods lland 12. It'will be clear that, with the gear shifting rods 11 and 12 in neutral positions; if the-plateQQ is disposed in its lowermostposition. said pins 42-l2 will be located within said recesses 16 and'19 to hold said' gear shifting'rods 11 and 12 positively insaidneutral'positions; Itwill'be observed that; unlesssome guardingineans is provided-, tliestticls 42'42 migh'tholdthe The illustrated locking gear shifting rods 11 and 12 innnovably in positions other than neutral positions. Such a contingency is impossible in the practice of the present invention, however, by reason of the fact that said plate :22) is provided with a second pair oi downwardly extending studs tti lfi which are so positioned that, except when'the gear shitting rods it and 12 are in neutral positions, said studs til-l2} abut against said rods 11 and 12 it the locking plate ben'ioved downwardly and will prevent movement of said studs 12 113 to locking position. In order to permit the studs and -l3l3 to engage the gear shitting rods 11 and 12, apertures l-t--t-l; are provided in the upper part of the elongated portion .15 ot the cover plate 10, said apertures Art-t1 being in alignment; with said studs -l2-l2 and filth--13. lly reason of the fact that recesses 17 and it) are V-shapcd notches and the extremities of the detents 2222 are conical, sullicient space is provided in the ordinary motor vehicle construcplate .29 may not'he moved-to locking position themselves within the recesses 17 and 20 when the detents are disposed in saidreecsscs 17 and 20. In order that the plate 29 may not be moved to locking position except when the gear shittingrods l1 and 12 "are in neutral positions, the distance between the studs ,3-l l maybe greater than the distance between the studs -l2- l3. Inasmuch as in many designs of motor vehicles the outermost recesses 28 and 18 of the gear-shitting rod 11 and outermost recesses 19 and 21 of the gear shitting" rodfll'i are deeper than are the middle recesses 17 and 20. the advantage accrues that, said studs -13 l-Il' will prevent the downward move ment o'tthe plate 29 except when said middle recesses 17 and 20 are disposed in position to receive saidstuds -ll-l l: thatis to say-the plate 29 may he moved downwardly only when the gear shitting rods 11 and; 12 are in neutral positions.

illorcover. as mentioned above, in certain designs of motor vehicles the spacing of the recesses in the rods 11 and His now uniform. Studs 4242 and l1l-l3 will be disposed in position to locat themselves within tour of the recesses in the two rods at such times that the rods are in neutral positions. By reason ollhe non-uniform spacing' referred to, said fourstuds will not find lei.

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simple jig may be provided, which jig need not be illustrated or described inasmuch as it forms no part of the present invent-ion and inasmuch as jigs suitable for the purpose will at once occur to those skilled in the art. After the holes are drilled in their proper locations, the stud bolts 28 will be mounted in position to hold the attachment 2d and cover plate 10 securely in position upon the casing 10.

As explained above, with. the gear shifting rods 1.1 and 12 in neutral positions, thelocking plate 29 may be moved downwardly and locked in its lowermost position by a simple downward movement upon the locking member 3 3, which will cause the spring actuated bolt 37. to snap intothe aperture 38. At this time the downwardly extending studs et2l2 of the locking plate 29 will be disposed within the recesses 16 and 19 of the gear shifting rods and the studs 4343 will be disposed within the middle recesses 17 and 20. When it is desired to unlock the transmission, application of the proper key to the locking member 33 will result in the retraction of the locking bolt 37, whereby the spring 39 will actuate the locking plate upwardly to release the studs and 4343 from the gear shifting rods 11 and 12. As explained above, it will be impossible to lock the motor vehicle in any but neutral position, for the reason that the pins 43- i3 will not enter the I'GQESSOS except when the gear shifting rods 11 and 12 are in neutral positions.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in de tail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An attachment for the gear shift casing of a motor vehicle comprising a member adapted to be bolted to said casing, said member including a reciprocable locking member, said locking member including abutn'lent means for fitting within the gear shifting rods of said casing and having other abutment means for preventing the movement of said first mentioned abutment means except when said gear shifting rods are in a n'edctermined position.

2. In combination, the gear shift casing of a motor vehicle including the usual recessed gear shifting rods within said casing, a cover plate for said casing, said cover plate and casing having registering bolt holes, and an attachment for said casing and cover plate comprising a portion having bolt holes registering with said first mentioned bolt holes and also comprising a lock-controlled reciprocable locking member comprising detents adapted to fit within predetermined recesses in said gear shifting rods, said locking member having abutment portions for preventing locking functions of said locking member except when said gear shifting rods are in neutral position.

In combination with the usual gear shift casing of a motor vehicle having a pair of gear shifting rods each provided with recesses for cooperation with a detent for holding saidrods in predetermined position, a locking member comprising a. lock-controlled reciprocable member having detents adapted to be inserted within certain of said recesses to prevent movement of said rods.

i In combination with the usual gear shi t cas 1,9, of a motor vehicle having a pair of gear shifting rods each provided with receeses for cooperation with a detent for holding said rods in predetermined position, a locking member comprising a lockcontrolled reciprocable member having detents adapted to be inserted within certain of said recesses to prevent movement of said rods, said reciprocable member being provided with an abutment portion positioned to abut one of said rods to prevent locking functions of said reciprocable member except when said rods are in neutral position.

5. In combination with the usual gear shift casing of a motor vehicle, including a pair of longitudinally movable gear shifting rods having recesses and detent means adapted to be disposed within said recesses to yieldablyhold said rods in predeterminedpositions, a locking d vice adapted to be socured to'said casing, said locking device includinga lock-controlled reciprocable locking member having a plurality of studs projecting therefrom, certain of said studs being adapted to enter certain of said recesses when said gear shifting rods are in neutral position for locking said rods against movement, other of said studs being positioned to contact with said rods to prevent movement of said first mentioned studs to locking po-' sition except when said rods are in neut'al position.

6. In combination,a gear shift casing having a plurality of screw-threaded 'bolt holes, a cover plate therefor having a pair of bolt holes registering with said first mentioned bolt holes, a pair of longitudinally movable gear shifting rods having recesses spaced longitudinally thereof, a pair of detent members spring-pressed apart and adapted to enter said recesses to yieldably hold said gear shifting rods in predetermined positions, said cover plate having apertures in the top thereof con'imunicating with certain of said recesses when said rods are in neutral position, and an attachment for said gear shift casing comprising a member having bolt holes communicating with the bolt holes in said casing and cover plate, said attachment including a locking plate having pins projecting from the under slde thereof, said lot) lit") locking plate having studs positioned to enter certain of said recesses to lock said gear shifting rods against longitudinal movement, said locking plate being provided with another pin adapted to abut one of said gear shitting rods to prevent movementof said first mentioned studs to locking position except when said gear shifting rods are in neutral position.

7. In combination, a gear shift casing having a plurality of screw-threaded bolt holes, a cover plate therefor having a pair of bolt holes registering with said lirst mentioned bolt holes, a pair of longitudinally movable gear shifting rods having recesses spaced longitudinally thereof, a pair of detent members spring-presscd apart and adapted to enter said recesses to yieldably hold said gear shitting rods in predetern'iined positions, said cover plate having apertures in the top thereof communicating with certain of said recesses when said rods are in neutral position, and an attachment for said gear shift casing comprising a member having bolt holes con'imunicating with the bolt holes in said casing and cover plate, said at tachment including a locking plate having pins projecting from the under side thereof, said locking plate having studs positioned to enter certain of said recesses to lock said gear shifting rods against longitudinal movement, said locking plate being provided with another pin adapted to abut one of said gear shifting rods to prevent movement of said first mentioned studs to locking position except when said gear shifting rods are in neutral position, said locking plate having studs projecting from the upper side thereof for guiding same in its reciprocating movement.

8.1n combination, a gear shift casing having a plurality of scrcw-tlne2uled bolt holes, a cover plate therefor having a pair of bolt holes registering with said first mentioned bolt holes, a pair of longitudinally movable gear shifting rods having recesses spaced longitudinally thereof, a pair of detent members spring-pressed apart and adapted to enter said recesses to yicldably hold said gear shifting rods in prcdeterwith another pin adapted to abut one of said gear shifting rods to prevent movement of said lirst mentioned studs to locking position except when said gear shifting rods are in neutral position, and a spring-actuated locking member for controlling said locking plate, said locking member being biased to min-locking position and having a springactuated plunger for releasably holding said locking plate in locking position.

Signed at Chicago, lllinois, this 25th day Of September, 19:26.

HARRY F. GEQRGE. 

